Journalist Yesypenko would be subjected to tortures by electrocuting

RFE/RL

During two days, Vladyslav Yesipenko would had been electrocuted in order to make him confess, as “Hraty” reported it, with reference to a source in the pre-trial detention center in Simferopol.

According to a source who could contact Yesypenko, the FSB officers put an "object" on the detainee's head, connected wires to and switched on, gradually increasing the voltage. 

The investigators forced him to testify and voice his confessions in an interview with the general producer of the local TV channel "Krym24" Oleg Kryuchkov. In an interview, Yesipenko said that he was carrying an explosive device in his car, as well as sending videos made in Crimea to the editorial office of Radio Liberty's “Krym.Realii” project and to the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.

“After the publication of these testimonies, Yesypenko refused to testify further, citing Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. It allows to the person not to testify against oneself and relatives. According to the detainee, now he is under only psychological pressure, ” the newspaper reported.

As IMI reported, on March 10, As IMI reported, on March 10, n March 10, Russian FSB officers detained Vladislav Yesipenko, a freelancer of Radio Svoboda (Crimea.Realities project), in the occupied Crimea. Yesipenko took part in the action dedicated to Taras Shevchenko's anniversary, which took place in Simferopol on March 9. The arrest term is until May 11.

Yesipenko is accused of gathering information "in the interests of Ukraine's special services," including for the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Russian FSB's Public Relations Center reported on March 16. According to the FSB, Yesipenko "carried out photo and video recording of the area, livelihoods and places of mass stay of people in the Crimea."

Human rights activists said Yesipenko was denied access to an independent lawyer and called for his release .

On March 12, it became known that Yesipenko was being held in a temporary detention facility in Simferopol.

On March 19, it became known that Vladyslav Yesipenko was accused of espionage in favor of the secret services of Ukraine. Human rights activists do not exclude that the FSB would use physical pressure on him.

The same day, his wife claimed she feared for his lige and health. "I want to say once again that I fear for the life and health of my husband, especially after yesterday's video. This video is another proof of beatings, torture and abuse of a person. This is confirmed by the non-admission of two independent lawyers to her husband,” as Kateryna said.

According to her, there were traces of beatings on his face and neck. In addition, despite the fact that she sent him a parcel with clothes, he was given someone else's clothes, under which they tried to hide something.

"The shape of the body was visually disproportionate, that is, I assume that he had something disguised under his clothes: either a device or a corset," the woman suggested.